Vixen and Parallel Port just aren't working...

[NickyVeee]

Hey all... This is my first post on DIYC. So I decided the best way to kick off my newbie-ness was to ask a newbie kind of question and get help from some of the experts on the forum.

So here's my situation. I have my outlets and everything rigged up using SSRs, I began hooking on wires into the parallel port on my laptop, checked to make sure the LEDs were lighting up on the SSRs when I ran a test in a 3rd party testing software. Everything seems to work, the ground on the parallel works, and each SSR seems to be corresponding to the parallel testing commands. By the way, there is no separate interface between the 3-32VDC connections on my SSRs and the parallel port, and everything still seems to work fine in the tester.

The problem lies in Vixen. I set up Vixen to work with my 6 channel SSR light display. I set the sequence up with the basic parallel plug-in, and set the address to 378, which worked in the testing software. Now everytime I try to run the sequence, there is no signal coming from the parallel port, which means the LEDs (and the christmas lights hooked in) do not operate. And now I'm basically stuck, not so much frustrated, but just in general stuck.

Anybody have any ideas? Please let me know if I have to explain anything further.

Thanks,
Nick

[RJ]

Make sure that in your plugin setup on the right where it says channel xx to xx that you have the channels set for 1 to 8 or so. This simetimes get missed and so vixen does not assign channels. I believe this works on this plugin the same as the rest.

Hope maybe this helps. If not there is sure to be many post to follow mine.

RJ

[NickyVeee]

Thanks RJ for your response, unfortunately I tried that and it still doesn't seem to want to work.

[TERBObob]

Now everytime I try to run the sequence, there is no signal coming from the parallel port

Am curious if you went and ran a test using the parallel port WITHOUT using VIXEN after you got no signal ?
Am wondering if you toasted your parallel port .
Remember , if using the COOP ssr's , they are POSTIVE common and NEGATIVE activated . Unlike that which comes out of your parallel port . Common NEGATIVE and POSTIVE ( hot ) activated .

[NickyVeee]

Am curious if you went and ran a test using the parallel port WITHOUT using VIXEN after you got no signal ?
Am wondering if you toasted your parallel port .
Remember , if using the COOP ssr's , they are POSTIVE common and NEGATIVE activated . Unlike that which comes out of your parallel port . Common NEGATIVE and POSTIVE ( hot ) activated .

Vixen doesn't send a signal. The parallel port tester does send out signals. I wired the positive to each data line on the parallel port, and sent the negative back to the ground on the port.

It seems to work in the tester just fine with that configuration.

[phenagan]

What type of SSRs are you using?

[NickyVeee]

What type of SSRs are you using?

40-480VAC line, with a 3-32VDC input. And it's rated to hold 10 Amps. As I said before the SSRs work just fine, it's just Vixen and the parallel port aren't seeming to work, no matter what I try.

[phenagan]

Can you be more specific, i.e. brand and model number? That'll help check if they need sinking or sourcing control.

[bmcgeeny]

Vixen doesn't send a signal. The parallel port tester does send out signals. I wired the positive to each data line on the parallel port, and sent the negative back to the ground on the port.

It seems to work in the tester just fine with that configuration.

So I am understanding that you have some software other than vixen that can send the +5 signal that the relay needs to fire?
It's been a bit but I have done this, (scratches inside of brain) You can get them to turn on and off, wired to your parallel port but when you try to do the same thing in vixen it won't work?
If all that is correct, you have them wired right. You need to go back to vixen and check your setup.

Start over and create a new sequence. Leave all the default settings. Do not assign a profile. Just "next" your way until you get to number of channels. Six right. When you get to "output plugin setup" select "basic parallel" Over on the right side set your channels in the boxs 1 & 6 Your not putting any music to it so just go on past it. Now hit "create it"

Now in the sequence go up to "attached plugins" Select "basic parallel" and then "use" Make sure the check box is checked, in the chanell window 1 & 6
Click on Setup and the window showing your available ports. Select which one you have. If you don't know you may have to try all three.

Put your some sequence info in and that should run 6 channels on the parallel port.

[bmcgeeny]

Can you be more specific, i.e. brand and model number? That'll help check if they need sinking or sourcing control.

Since he has them working I think he has them wired for + sync. They are stand alone SSRs so I would guess just switching the wires on the low voltage side would change it from sync to source.

[Cburg]

This might be a bit off topic here but. I had a problem 2 years ago where my Parallel port would not drive my controller. I had to put pull-up resistors on all the sig lines to ground. The port would run my printer but not the controller.

Cburg

[NickyVeee]

Thank you guys for all the suggestions, they are much appreciated. I'm not going to have much time to play around with it tonight, but I'll check to tomorrow and try all of your suggestions, including switching the low voltage, and just doing a straight run through the wizard and make sure the right port is being utilized.

And if it doesn't end up working, I still have that GE box that plays the cheesy midi songs and coordinates them to lights. Not as cool as a fully programmable box, but it's a temporary fix.

Thanks again guys!

[NickyVeee]

Just to let you guys know, I got in working in Vixen 1.1. Now it's just to create a simple sequence before Christmas, and since I only have 6 channels it shouldn't be too hard.

[Virtus]

What was the issue?

[NickyVeee]

What was the issue?

To be honest I have no clue. Maybe Vixen 2.0 has issues in Windows ME using the Parallel port, and 1.1 doesn't?

I don't know, I mean everything works now, and I'm currently attempting to program a show. But thanks everyone for your help!

[Virtus]

Good luck. Have fun!

[NickyVeee]

Good luck. Have fun!

Thanks... Yeah I just finished up on the first song, it's a nice 3 1/2 minute one. I worked on it for a few hours... And it's pretty decent for a 6 channel set, I'll post a video once I get it up and running, and when it's not raining cats and dogs outside.